Developing competitiveness in the international arena.

The Vietnam U17 team has just become the fourth Vietnamese football team to participate in the World Cup in a decade, counting from the first time the Vietnamese futsal team participated in the global tournament in 2016.

It was a very proud journey for Vietnamese football. Even more noteworthy, the U17 Vietnam team's qualification didn't come from luck or a moment of brilliance, but rather the result of two years of accumulation, with a streak of 17 wins, only one loss, and the resilience to come from behind and defeat UAE 3-2 in the decisive group stage match.

That historic ticket also opened up a longer story about the shift in football thinking in our country. Gone are the days when Vietnamese youth football players went to continental tournaments only to learn or huddle in defense when at a disadvantage. The style of play that the U17 Vietnam team displayed today, from short passes under high pressure, the ability to quickly transition to diverse combinations in set-piece situations, shows a clear step forward in tactics and footballing thinking. This is the result of building a framework that prioritizes ball control, modern play, and high-pressure pressing under coach Cristiano Roland.

These changes actually began with the Vietnamese U23 team under South Korean coaches such as Park Hang-seo, Gong Oh-kyun, and currently Kim Sang-sik, and continued in the U20 and U17 age groups. Thanks to this, progressing deep into Asian competitions is no longer seen solely as a "miracle." It is the result of accumulated experience over many generations, from lessons learned in youth development and the use of foreign coaches to creating connections and continuity between different levels of the national team.

Looking back over the past 10 years, from the 2016 Futsal World Cup, the 2017 U20 World Cup, the 2023 Women's World Cup to the 2026 U17 World Cup, Vietnamese football has shown a clear and directed development process. These firsts always hold special significance for any footballing nation, as they not only inspire but also strengthen belief in long-term development.

However, the further we progress, the more we need a clear and comprehensive perspective. Vietnam's World Cup qualification for football largely occurred within the context of the International Football Federation (FIFA) continuously expanding the scale of its tournaments, thereby increasing the number of slots for Asia and opening up more opportunities for developing football nations, including Southeast Asia. Besides Vietnam, many countries in the region such as Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines have also had representatives participate in World Cups or Futsal World Cups. Therefore, these qualification spots need to be viewed within a broader context to avoid confusing noteworthy achievements with true level of performance.

In reality, the majority of World Cup qualification spots at all levels are still primarily held by the top 10 football nations in Asia. Participating in the World Cup only reflects the achievements of a generation or a period of high performance, and does not necessarily mean that Vietnamese football has established a stable position at the continental level. At the youth level, Vietnam has not yet maintained a consistent presence in the top 10 in Asia; futsal and women's football show signs of stagnation, while the national team remains outside the top group in Asia (outside the top 15 in Asia). Therefore, in the strategy for the development of Vietnamese football in the 2030-2045 period, the goal of reaching the top 10 in Asia remains a priority. Only when that foundation is achieved will the opportunity to participate in the World Cup become a regular occurrence, rather than a temporary milestone. At that point, participating in the World Cup will truly be an opportunity to compete and test oneself against the world's leading football nations.

The Vietnam U17 team has followed in the footsteps of their predecessors to write another glorious chapter in the history of Vietnamese football. However, the journey from simply "participating" to truly "competing" on the world stage is still very long. This is not just the story of today's U17 generation, but a major challenge for an entire football system that constantly aspires to reach new heights.

DANG LINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ren-nang-luc-canh-tranh-o-san-choi-quoc-te-post852874.html